Liquid-gas contact apparatus



Sept 9 19s W J. BERINGER LIQUID-GAS CONTACT APPARATUS 2 SHEETS- SHEET 1Filed April- 1. 195o Sept 9, 1952 w. J. BERlNGr-:R 2,609,888

LIQUID-GAS CONTACT APPARATUS Filed April l. 1950 A 2 SPEETS--SHEET 2TJCIAL. 3]? (20/ a'y aff" (///fz/// 7% Arrow/ffy Patented Sept. 9, 1952IlIQUID- GAS CONTACT APPARATUS William J. Beringen', Dayton, Ohio,assignor to Aqua-Therm, Inc., Da

of Ohio yton, Ohio, a corporation Application April 1, 195o, seiaiivc.153,413 1 This invention relates to apparatus.

More particularly is the invention concerned withliquid-gas contact in apacking bed as heretofore known and used in Water cooling, air scrubbingand like installations. Prior art de vices of this kind have haddistinct and recognized practical limitations as to the temperaturedifferential which can be achieved in water cooling and as to the degreeof suspended solid matter whichcan be removed from a gas. Contributingto such limitation has been the diniculty of obtaining maximumliquid-gas contact in the bed as well as ineflicientliquiddistribution"over the bed. Further, prior art devices have suffered fromundue `complication and excessive size, adding to their cost ofmanufacture and precluding the incorporation of such features asmultiple utility and portability.

It is an object of this invention to present a liquid-gas contact devicein which the essential elements thereof are closely and compactlyarranged in such wise that they may if desired be built into a small,portable and relatively light weight unit. i

Another object of the invention is to introduce in liquid-gas contactdevices a new high level of performance resulting from use of a saddletype packing bed in combination with a novel liquid distribution system`for realizing the greatest advantages from such` bed.

A further object of the invention is to achieve through a combination asnoted above an effiliquid-gas contact zclaims; (criss-4145,71; i

thereby. I

Still another object of the invention is to pre- A' sent a basicconstruction, as set forth, applicable selectively to water cooling, airscrubbing, air.

conditioning Aand like Work.

A still further object of the inventionis to present av device of thekind described particularly characterized in that it hasno moving parts,imposes no temperature limitations. has a low pressure drop, requiresbut small floor space and low head room, is simple to operate andmaintain and which may be supplied with a wide range of capacities,shapes and construction materials. Other `objects and structural detailsof the invention will appear from the following description when `readin connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a view in perspective, partly broken away, of a liquid-gascontact device in` accordance withV the instant invention;

Fig. 2 is a View in cross section, taken substantially along the line2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig; 3 is a detailview ci.` a packing element;

Fig. 4 is an installation diagram, illustrating the device of theinvention as operating to cool and condition air; I I

Fig. 5 is a View similar to Fig. 4, illustrating the device as operatingto cool water; and

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Figs. 4 and 5, showing the device asoperating to scrub or clean gases of obnoxious fumes and foreign matter.

In its illustrated embodiment, the liquid-gas contact device of theinvention, comprises, as shown in Figs. -l and 2, a casing Ii] the topof which is shown asbeingopen since ducting and conduits for the conductof.` the` liquid and gas communicate therewith. vIn the bottom of thecasing is an upstanding partition wall II dividing the lower end of thecasing into a blower compartment I2 and a sump I3. A gas inlet I4communicates with the `compartment I 2 and a liquid outlet I5.communicates with the sump I3. A motor driven blower I6, of a knowncommercially available kind, is mounted in the compartment I2 to drawgas in through the inlet I4 and discharge it through an exit opening Ilacross `the sump I3` and upward in the casing. Disposed above the blowerIB and defining a top wall of the compartment l2 is a plate or bailie I8fastened as by welding to one vwall of the casing I0, and extendingtoward but terminating short of the opposite Wall. The plate I8 isinclined for a deflection of descending liquid out of the compartment I2and into the sump I3.

Above the plate I8 there are secured to the side walls of the casing IBangle pieces I9 providing a mountingfor a grill sheet 2| of expandedmetal. The grill 2i" supports a packing bed 22 made up of a large numberof saddle shaped elements 23, one of which is shown in detail in Fig.,3.` The elements 23 are hard, smooth surfaced objects made of anysuitable inert material, for example chemical stoneware. All of thesurfaces of the saddle elements are curved, there being `no ledges orcrevices to catch and collect foreign material. In forming the bed 22,the saddle elements are simplyl poured into the casing upon the grill 2Ito the desired depth, filling the transverse dimensions of the casing.The saddle elements accordingly occupy random positions with respect toone another in the 4bed and define amaze of interconnecting, irregularlyshaped chambers and passageways, there being no accountY of the shape ofthe saddle 'elements a high proportion of open space in the lbed as wellas avery large contact area. Depending upon the size ofthe saddleelements, there may be from fty to one hundred and iifty or even moresquare feet of surface area in the bed per cubic foot of volume.

In overlying relation to the packing bed 22 is a series of distributorpans 24 which are generally U-shaped in cross section, being closed attheir bottom and ends and having parallel upstanding side walls. Theindividual pans 24 extend from side to side of the casing Where they aresupported on angle pieces 25 and the `series of pans extends from end toend of the casing. adjacent pans of the series being spaced apart for aflow of gas therebetween exteriorly of the pans. In the upper edges ofeach 'pan are V -cuts .2s spaced calibrated distances apart.

Seated on top of the pans 24 and extending transversely thereof from endto end of the casing is a relatively narrow trough 21 having in itsbottom longitudinally spaced apart series of periorations 28, eacharranged to overlie and com- Y municate with a respective distributorpan 24. The trough 21 is supplied with liquid, as by thediagrammatically indicated 'conduit 29. The liquid may escape from thetrough 21 through the openings 28 into the pans 24 under a -hydrostaticpressure head which is a function of the rate of now through conduit `29and the size and number of the openings 28. As the pans 24 fill withliquid there is an overflow therefrom through the V-cuts 26, theoverflow forrm'ng small independent streams which run down the sides orthe pans .24 and on to the top oi the packing bed 22. By reason of thearrangement oi the distributor pans and V-cuts therein, there isaccordingly formed alarge number of liquid streams which descend uponand 'enter the packing bed at spaced points over the entire surface ofthe bed. There is a further distributive effect in the packing bed,wherein the saddle elements break up and intermingle the several streamswith the result that there is a uniform and even wetting of the packingbed with no opportunity offered for the liquid to form and followchannels through the bed.

A pair of expanded metal grills 3@ and 3| are arranged alongside thetrough 21 on angle pieces on the ends and sides of the casing IG. Saddieelements like the elements 23 are supported on the grills 3S and 3l andin eiect make up a single packing bed 33. The bed 33 is thus mounted outof contactwith the liquid but in the path of now of the gas out of thecasing. It accordingly may function as a mist or drift inhibitor,collecting water particles carried by the gas stream and allowing themto drip down into the pans or directly upon the packing bed 22.

In the operation of the device, therefore, the iquid and gas are broughtinto intimate physical contact in the packing bed 22, with the gasiiowing generally upward therein and the liquid flowing generallydownward. The gas distributes itself evenly over the area of the packingbed, in entering the bottom thereof, but in its passage through the bedis broken up into a multitude of small ribbon-like currents, and, assuch, comes into contact successively with small countercurrent streamsof liquid which travel in thin lms over each saddle element 23. Thus alarge surface area of gas comes into intimate contact with a largesurface area of liquid under conditions of low surface tension. Underthese favorable contact conditions, the desired function of the deviceis carried out with a high eliciency. Thus in water cooling, theobtaining of maximum contact area between the heated or warm water andthe relatively cooler airprovides for maximum the dry bed 33.

absorption of water vapors by the air and a corresponding high rate ofcooling of the water. Similarly, in air conditioning the moist warm airyields its vapor content readily to the counter flowing relatively coolwater with a corresponding rapid drying and reduction intemperature ofthe air. In air scrubbing or cleaning the counterflowing liquidirrigates thepacking bed which can be described asa labyrinth ofsmoothly streams of liquid with a countercurrent ow of turbulent air orgas streams. As the direction of each small ribbon of gas is changed byapproximately forty-five degrees, which occurs from Veight to thirty-twotimes per foot of travel and in random directions, air borne solids inthe gas stream tend to continue in the prior direction whereupon theyimpinge on and cling to the liquid Afilm iiowing over the packingpieces. A similar .mode of action will take place in the use of thedevice as an absorber for by-product recovery. Y

In the system diagrams of Figs. 4,75V and 6, Fig. 4 illustrates theliquid-gas contact device in a typical air -conditioning system.Indicated at 3ft therein, the gas inlet I4 of the device communicateswith a conduit 35 leading from a space 36 to be cooled. Another conduit31 leads back to the space 35 and communicates with the top oi thedevice to receive the air emerging from A liquid inlet conduit 38communicates with the trough 21 while a liquid outlet conduit 39 isconnected to the sump outlet i5. Moist warm air is drawn from the space`35 through conduit 35 While cool water or other f liquid enters thedevice by Way of conduit 33.

Within the packing bed 22 the air and liquid achieve a pervading contactwith one another with the result that the air gives up its moisture andheat to the liquid and flows to conduit 31 for delivery back to thespace 35 in a cool -dry state. The now warm liquid drops into the sumpi3 and is drawn off through conduit t9, it being understood thatsuitable pumping means will besupplied for this purpose. The liquid maycirculate in a closed system, in which 'case-con'- duit 39 will beconnected to conduit 38 by appropriate liquid cooling means.Alternatively, the conduit 3Q may discharge directly to drain, whileconduit 3S communicates with afsource of fresh water, as the city supplyline.

In Fig. 5, the device is illustrated as used for water cooling purposes.There will be, in this instance, an applied heat load across a pair ofconduits 4I and 42 and a water jacket 43 through which cool water iscirculated at a rate to obtain a predetermined reduction in the heatload. The Waterv coolant circulates in a closed system, the

water entering the jacket 43 byjway of a conduit llt and leaving by aconduit 45. vThe conduit 44, which will have a pump 45 interposedtherein, is connected to the sump outlet l5 of the liquid-gas contactdevice, here indicated at 34a. The conduit 45 is connected to the top ofthe device to discharge into the trough 21. The air inlet lli of thedevice is connected to atmosphere, as by a` conduit 41. The airdischarge, from packing bed 33, occurs through a conduit 48. In theoperation of this system, water warmed by its passage through the jacket43 is conducted by conduit 45 to the trough 21 from which it isdistributed over the packing bed 22. Counteriiowing, relatively cool,air is encountered in the bed with the result that the air absorbsmoisture from the water, eecting cooling thereof. The cooled waterdescends to the sump I3 and is returned by way of conduit 44 to thejacket 43. The warmed, moist air discharges to atmosphere throughconduit 48.

In Fig. 6, the liquid-gas contact device, here indicated at 34h, isillustrated in an air or gas scrubbing system. A ventilator 49 isarranged to exhaust a given area under the influence oi the blower I6,the ventilator being connected by a conduit I to the gas inlet I4 of thedevice 34h. Above the packing bed 33 the device is connected by aconduit 52 venting to the atmosphere or returning for reuse in theexhaust area if desirable. Irrigating liquid is supplied the trough 21by way of a conduit 53 while a conduit 54 carries oi the liquid from thesump I3. Contaminated exhaust gases are conducted by conduit 5I to thepacking bed 22 where they iiow upward in contact with the irrigatingliquid. Vaporous and solid matter in the gas is transferred in the bedto the liquid so that clean air emerges for discharge through theconduit `52. The contaminated liquid is drawn from the sump by way ofconduit 54 which may if desired lead to an artificial setting pondwhereby the irrigating liquid may be conned in a substantially closedcircuit and reused.

With further regard to the construction and arrangement of theliquid-gas contact device, it will be noted that the internal structurethereof lends itself to a variety of installations. Thus it may, as inthe illustrated instance, be contained in a metal casing in unitarypackage form. As such it is portable, easily shipped and handled and maybe installed in any convenient location. For a permanent installation,there may be substituted for the casing I 0, a brick or concrete blockhousing with the internal structure of the device being built into thehousing. Either type of installation is in keeping with the highperformance characteristics of the device, particularly as regards thecooling of high temperature liquids.

In connection with these performance characteristics, the instantinvention makes easily feasible the handling of water cooling problemswhich heretofore were impracticable of solution on account of the sizeof the installation required and its corresponding cost. It may, forexample, be desired to cool water flowing at one thousand gallons perminute from 130 F. to 90 F., using ambient air having a wet bulbtemperature of 80 F. Utilizing a tower construction in accordance withthe instant invention, the desired heat reduction can be achieved in apacking bed 22 eighteen inches in depth and a mist or drift eliminationbed 33 three inches in depth, with an air volume iiow somewhat greaterthan one hundred thousand cubic feet per minute. With an air velocity ofthree hundred feet per minute, the transverse dimensions of the packingbeds would be approximately eighteen by twenty feet and the overallheight of the tower about twelve feet. The exit air temperature underthese conditions would be about 110 F. 'I'he relatively smal1 size ofthe tower, considering the magnitude of the 6 problem involved, is madepossible by the relatively small size of the contact bed 22 and this inturn is a function of the saddle packing in conjunction with the evenand uniform distribution of water over the bed.

What is claimed is:

1. A liquid-gas contact device, including a casing open at the topthereof, a liquid inlet trough extending across the top of said casing,and having longitudinally spaced apart perforations in itsbottom, aseries of spaced apart liquid distributor pans in transverse underlyingrelation to said trough and positioned to receive liquid from respectiveperforations in said trough, a series of longitudinally spaced apartV-cuts in each said pans through which the liquid in the pans mayoverflow and drip downward in the casing, a bed of packing materialbeneath said distributor pans upon which the liquid drips in a pluralityof streams at predetermined points over the area of the bed, saidpacking material comprising random positioned saddle shaped elements toaccomplish a variable intermingllng and numerous changes of direction ofsaid liquid streams as they descend through the packing bed, a sump inthe bottom of said casing to collect the liquid and an outlet from saidsump, and means for directing a eountercurrent of gas upwardly throughsaid packing bed and thence between said pans for discharge out of thetop of the casing, said gas current being constrained by said saddleelements to follow substantially the same flow path as said liquidstreams but in a reverse direction.

2. A liquid-gas contact device, according to claim 1, characterized by asupplemental bed of packing material arranged in embracing relation tosaid trough, above said distributor pans through which said air currentis discharged from the casing in non-contacting relation to the liquid.

WILLIAM J. BERINGER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the iile ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 226,908 Edwards Apr. 27, 18801,334,515 Braun Mar. 23, 1920 1,476,292 Galusha Dec. 4, 1923 1,673,732Brooks June 12, 1928 1,690,092 Stocker Oct. 30, 1928 1,796,501 Berl Mar.17, 1931 2,127,450 Schneider et al Aug. 16, 1938 2,253,261 Bacon Aug.19, 1941 2,385,483 Mode Dec. 19, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Number CountryDate 298,075 Great Britain Nov. 15, 1928 339,754 Germany Aug. 5, 1921332,828 Italy Dec. 9, 1935

